Rapids earn pair of wins in shortened scrimmages

San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The Colorado Rapids earned a pair of 1-0 wins in shortened scrimmages on Saturday at Alex G. Spanos Stadium, topping the San Jose Earthquakes and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The games each lasted 35 minutes, and featured players who did not play, or played short minutes, in Friday night’s exhibition against the Earthquakes.

In the first game, the Rapids featured a young team of players that are all currently on the roster. Tony Cascio, Colorado’s first round 2012 MLS SuperDraft pick, made the difference by scoring the game’s only goal. After a long ball, Andre Akpan and Quincy Amarikwa both won flick-on headers, and the ball fell to Cascio, who hit a 20-yard left footed shot into the side netting.

The second 35-minute game was against Cal Poly SLO, who had a number of good chances but were repeatedly stopped by Rapids trialist goalkeeper Joel Helmick, playing his first minutes of the preseason. On the other end of the field, Andre Akpan scored the only goal after drawing a penalty and then finishing from the spot.

Rapids defender Hunter Freeman suffered an ankle injury in the second match, and will be evaluated after the team returns to Denver on Sunday. The Rapids will train next week at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before participating in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational the following week.